In 2014, the world of rock and metal was gifted with a dynamic debut album from The Oath, a duo which featured the stunning vocal and songwriting talents of Germany’s Johanna Sadonis. As quickly as the album became one of the big buzzes of the year, The Oath split up. Sadonis wasted no time wallowing in what might have been and directed her energy into a new project, Lucifer. She tabbed bassist Dino Gollnick and drummer Andrew Prestidge to flesh out the band, before connecting with Cathedral/Death Penalty guitarist Garry “Gaz” Jennings to write the band’s debut album, Lucifer I.

While Lucifer’s sound is still steeped on the classic old school doominess that The Oath celebrated, Sadonis has moved away from the NWOBHM feel of her former band and more into heavy rock, or as she calls it, “magic rock”.

“Since the band has a lot of spiritual content–magic,” offers Sadonis, “I thought ‘magic’ works. We’ve been labeled ‘occult rock’, and the thing with this whole cult rock term is that it’s turned into some sort of insult lately. When someone labels you an occult rock band it sounds like some Johnny-come-lately which I definitely not am, because I’ve been into this kind of music and into magic since I was a little teenager over 20 years ago. So I didn’t want to have this Johnny-come lately term attached to the band, so I gave it my own term.”

Sadonis talked about how proud she was of the work that she did with The Oath and her disappointment at its sudden demise, but she believes it has pushed her closer to where she needs to be musically.

“I did love The Oath. I’m so very proud of it, but I have the feeling, as much as I love The Oath, the more passionate I am about Lucifer. Lucifer turned out to be even more so my thing: and that goes for the album. The songwriting process was a different one as well. It’s more defined and just goes much deeper. I am very proud of this album. For me it’s the best thing that I’ve done in my life.”

Metalholic sat down this week to chat with Sadonis in depth about Lucifer‘s debut album, out June 16 on Rise Above Records. The interview can be heard below and the video for the track “Izrael” can be viewed as well. Check out the full interview to hear Johanna talk about making the video.

Lucifer will begin its debut U.S. Tour in support of High on Fire and Pallbearer beginning July 30 in San Diego.